Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, survived a total of thirty eight criminal lawsuits, from party primary to post governorship election, making him the most fortunate and divinely anointed celebrant in the history of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
His political detractors fought him from all angles, pressed all manners of frivolous criminal charges, all in an attempt to stop him from becoming the governor, and when he eventually won the governorship election with a wide margin on March 18, 2023, Oborevwori’s traducers flooded the Courts with multifaceted lawsuits to remove him as governor, but all their efforts crashed like a huge log before the axe.
Executive Assistant on Communications and Orientation to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Latimore Oghenesivbe, while addressing Journalists during the happy hour he organised to fete members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Friday in Asaba after the Supreme Court Victory, said in all the travails of governor Oborevwori, God was with him, and that if God exalts a man, no mere mortal can bring him down.
He noted that the plethora of criminal lawsuits pressed against the governor of Delta State, could have swept him off his feet if not for the grace of God, and the divine inner peace, wisdom and strength of character he exhibited throughout his ordeals in the hands of desperate politicians who were hell bent on stealing the peoples mandate given to him at the polls last year.
Oghenesivbe posited that the nation’s judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court in all recent judgments, sent strong signals to unpopular candidates shopping for frivolous technicalities that there can never be business as usual, adding that in the case of Delta, it was crystal clear that the petitioners and Appellants claims and prayers were lacking in merit as declared by the Apex Court, and therefore laboured in vain to suppress the will of the good people of the state.
He disclosed that governor Oborevwori’s hands were clean, his personal and academic records remained unblemished, his genuine intentions to serve the people cannot be faulted, and that he truly and genuinely won the 2023 governorship election with a wide margin, winning 21 out of 25 local government areas as against his distant rival, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who struggled to win four local government areas.
“Gentlemen of the Press, we are gathered here for the happy hour to celebrate governor Oborevwori’s victory at the Supreme Court, but Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe insisted I must say something. I appreciate this rare privilege.
“Criminal cases pressed against the governor of Delta State, from party primary to post governorship election were 38 in all, and he won with divine ease. It can only be God and He alone is worthy of our praises.
“The massive pressure by governor Oborevwori’s detractors to subvert the genuine mandate of the People which they willingly gave to him at the polls on 18th March, 2023 failed woefully. The cases were absolutely ridiculous and grossly unwarranted in all ramifications, but the petitioners and Appellants, one after the order, crashed like a pack of cards, subdued and defeated to the Glory of God.
“Governor Oborevwori campaigned from Ward to Ward, Unit to Unit, Local Government to Government marketing his MORE agenda to the good people of Delta State. His opponents were busy casting aspersions, and some of them relied heavily on federal might and legal technicalities to subvert the will of the people to no avail.
“They did all manners of things to stop the move of God, and as we know it in Christiandom, no body can battle with God and win, the divine principles of ‘Touch not my annointed’ applies. The result of the divine oil of God on Oborevwori’s head played out at the Supreme Court today.
“His academic records were unblemished, his personal records and strength of character could not be faulted, his landslide victory at the polls was staggering, and above all, God was and still with governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
“The above reasons resonated again and again touching on all the 38 criminal litigations across Courts of competent jurisdictions and ended in favour of the governor and his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme.They divinely and miraculously survived a total of 38 criminal lawsuits to stand tall and remained unbeatable as affirmed by the Apex Court.
“I urge you, gentlemen of the esteemed Press, to continue doing the needful as watchdogs of society, especially in the area of development Journalism.
“Constructive criticism is ideal for good governance, it mirrors both positive and negatives necessary for nation building. But we must abstain from jungle journalism and dissemination of half truth and data manipulations, upholding professional standards and principles of fairness through balanced reporting.
“This get-together is to appreciate you, gentlemen of the press, for standing by governor Oborevwori throughout his ordeal, judging from your stories and articles while the legal tussles lasted,” Oghenesivbe said.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of NUJ Delta State, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, thanked the Executive Assistant on Communications and Orientation to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Latimore Oghenesivbe, for deeming it necessary to fete Journalists in the state as part of governor Oborevwori’s Supreme Court victory celebration.
He said members of the union remained apolitical, but noted that the victory of governor Oborevwori at the polls was convincing enough to avoid plethora of post elections litigations, and urged politicians to help strengthen and deepen democratic values and culture by accepting defeat to avoid unnecessary wastage of scarce financial resources in post election legal battles.
Oyowe, on behalf of Delta NUJ, congratulated governor Oborevwori, saying that it took the special grace of God for him to win 38 lawsuits, and urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory by extending the olive branch to his opponents, pointing out that in the realm of politics, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests exist.
“We congratulate His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori over his victory at the Supreme Court. I must say that his victory is well deserved.
“As working Journalists in the state, we shall remain neutral and apolitical in the discharge of constitutionally assigned responsibilities as members of the fourth estate of the realm.
“It takes the the special grace of God to win 38 pre election and post election criminal cases. The governor is truly an Apple in God’s eyes, his choice as governor is divine, judging from all his travails and consistent victories at lower Courts and at the Appellate Courts.
“It’s time for full-scale governance, because Deltans are desperately waiting for the full implementation of the governor’s MORE agenda. We shall monitor developments and also partner government to ensure that his social contract with the people of the state yield robust dividends.
“On behalf of Delta NUJ, I wish to commend the Executive Assistant on Communications and Orientation to the Governor, Dr Latimore Oghenesivbe, for extending the victory celebration to members of Council. We had a good time and may God replenish his purse and enlarge his coast, in Jesus Name, Amen,” Oyowe prayed.
Over 100 members of the union were present at the victory celebration held at the NUJ Press Centre, Asaba on Friday.
Special Senior Assistants on Media, and that of Community Newspapers to the Governor of Delta State, Comrade Fred Edoreh and Prince Eromosere Orhomonokpaye, as well as other appointees attended the event.